IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 20-0257
Filed August 4, 2021
STATE OF IOWA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
KORKI RICOH WILBOURN,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Marshall County, John J. Haney,
Judge.
Wilbourn appeals his sentence following a guilty plea and imposition of
sentence that adopted the plea agreement of the parties. Wilbourn further
requests a correction of the discrepancy between the district court’s oral and
written pronouncement of sentence. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.
Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Mary K. Conroy, Assistant
Appellate Defender, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Israel Kodiaga, Assistant Attorney
General, for appellee.
Considered by Mullins, P.J., and May and Schumacher, JJ.
2
SCHUMACHER, Judge.
Korki Wilbourn appeals the sentence imposed following his guilty pleas,
arguing the district court abused its discretion by failing to consider or understand
its discretion to reduce his mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to Iowa Code
sections 901.11(1) and 124.413(3) (2019) and asks the district court to correct a
discrepancy between its oral and written pronouncement of sentence. Because
judgment was entered after July 1, 2019, Wilbourn has no right to appeal his guilty
plea, and because he has failed to establish “good cause” to challenge his
sentences, we affirm.1 We find the discrepancy between the oral pronouncement
and the written sentencing order should be corrected through a nunc pro tunc
order.
A. “Good Cause” – Iowa Code Section 814.6
In the 2019 legislative session, the general assembly amended Iowa Code
section 814.6(1) (2019). The amendment denies a defendant the right of appeal
from a guilty plea, except for a guilty plea to a class “A” felony or in a case where
1 The first approximately eighty-one pages of appellant’s brief concern Wilbourn’s
good cause arguments. The State does not contest “good cause.” However, we
chose to address the issue. Because the issues raised have been addressed by
Damme and its prodigy, we do not engage in additional discussion of those issues.
See State v. Damme, 944 N.W.2d 98, 105 (Iowa 2020) (finding “good cause exists
to appeal from a conviction following a guilty plea when the defendant challenges
his or her sentence rather than the guilty plea”); State v. Treptow, ___ N.W.2d ___,
___, 2021 WL 2172073, at *2 (Iowa May 28, 2021) (explaining “section 814.6
restricts only a narrow class of defendants from pursuing a direct appeal as a
matter of right: those who plead guilty to non-class A offenses and cannot articulate
a legally sufficient reason to pursue a direct appeal. In other words, section 814.6
prohibits those who plead guilty to non-class A offenses from pursuing frivolous
appeals as a matter of right.”) (quotations omitted); State v. Tucker, ___ N.W.2d
___, ___, 2021 WL 1822905, at *4–7 (Iowa May 7, 2021) (finding section 814.6
does not violate federal or state guarantees of equal protection of the laws and
does not improperly restrict the role and jurisdiction of Iowa’s appellate courts).
3
a defendant establishes good cause. 2019 Iowa Acts ch. 140, § 28 (codified at
Iowa Code § 814.6(1)(a)(3) (2020)). The legislature also amended section 814.7,
eliminating direct-appeal ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims. See 2019 Iowa
Acts ch. 140, § 31 (codified at Iowa Code § 814.7). These amendments became
effective July 1, 2019. See Iowa Code § 3.7(1) (“All acts . . . shall take effect on
the first day of July following their passage, unless some other specified time is
provided.”). Our supreme court has held “that date of the judgment being appealed
controls the applicability of the amendment to section 814.6.” Damme, 944 N.W.2d
at 103 n.1. Wilbourn entered his guilty pleas on November 27, 2019, making the
amendments applicable to his appeal. See id. at 103 (“The amendment plainly
applies to Damme’s appeal because her judgment and sentence were entered on
July 1, 2019.”); Cf. State v. El-Amin, 952 N.W.2d 134, 137 n.1 (Iowa 2020)
(addressing ineffective-assistance claim for alleged lack of factual basis and
noting, “[b]ecause the district court entered El-Amin’s judgment of conviction and
sentence before July 1, 2019, this case is not governed by the amendments that
year to Iowa Code sections 814.6 and 814.7 restricting appeals from guilty pleas
and ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims”) (emphasis added); State v. Macke,
933 N.W.2d 226, 235 (Iowa 2019) (“We conclude the absence of retroactivity
language in sections 814.6 and 814.7 means those provisions apply only
prospectively and do not apply to cases pending on July 1, 2019.”).
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Wilbourn entered guilty pleas to an amended
charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver in violation of Iowa
Code section 124.401(1)(b)(7) and 124.413, and failure to affix a drug-tax-stamp
in violation of sections 453B.3, 453B.1(3)(a)(1), 453B.1(10) and 453B.12.
4
Possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver is a class “B” felony and
carries an indeterminate sentence not to exceed twenty-five years. Iowa Code
§ 902.9(1)(b). Failure to affix a drug-tax-stamp is a class “D” felony and mandates
an indeterminate sentence not to exceed five years. Iowa Code § 902.9(1)(e).
In exchange for his guilty pleas, the State dismissed Wilbourn’s other
charges.2 The parties agreed to jointly recommend that Wilbourn’s sentences run
consecutively for a total of thirty years. Additionally, because Wilbourn pled guilty,
the parties agreed to recommend the mandatory minimum sentence of the
possession charge be reduced by one-third pursuant to Iowa Code section
901.10(2). At the sentencing hearing on January 6, 2020, the State recited its
recommendation for Wilbourn’s sentence on the possession charge:
This is a joint plea recommendation. On the B felony possession
with intent to deliver, that is a 25-year term of incarceration with a
mandatory minimum of one-third to be served. Due to Mr. Wilbourn’s
acceptance of responsibility, his guilty plea, the parties agree to
recommend a reduction of that mandatory minimum by an additional
one-third of that one-third.
2 On September 17, 2019, the State charged Wilbourn through trial information
with: two counts of attempted murder, a class “B” felony, in violation of Iowa Code
sections 707.11; reckless use of a firearm, an aggravated misdemeanor, in
violation of section 724.30(1); going armed with intent, a class “D” felony, in
violation of section 708.8; intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class “C”
felony, in violation of section 708.6; felon in possession of a firearm, a class “D”
felony, in violation of section 724.26; possession of methamphetamine with intent
to deliver, a class “B” felony, in violation of sections 124.401(1)(b)(7) and 124.413,
with the sentencing enhancement of being in possession of a firearm, pursuant to
section 124.401(1)(e); failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a class “D” felony, in
violation of sections 453B.1, 453B.3, 453B.12; assault causing bodily injury, a
serious misdemeanor, in violation of sections 708.1 and 708.2(2); and driving while
revoked, a serious misdemeanor, in violation of section 321J.21. Initially, at
arraignment on October 4, Wilbourn entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges
and demanded a speedy trial.
5
The court asked Wilbourn if the State had complied with the plea agreement, and
Wilbourn stated:
It has, Judge, and we would—we would ask for the same
recommendation. We think it’s appropriate given what’s the
State’s—and also the family hardship issues. I believe the one-third
additional reduction in under [section] 910.10 if the court wanted that.
So—we would ask the court to follow that agreement.
In the court’s oral pronouncement of sentence, the court explained its
reasons for imposing sentence, stating,
I have considered all the sentencing options that are provided for in
chapters 901 and 907 of the Iowa code . . . .
. . . . And I’ve considered the recommendation that’s been
made here. This was a jointly recommended—or a joint
recommendation by the State and the defense pursuant to a
negotiated plea agreement in this case.
With regards to the mandatory minimum on the possession offense, the court
stated:
I will recommend the reduction in the mandatory minimums of that
sentence that has been negotiated as part of the plea agreement,
which is basically a two-thirds reduction of that mandatory minimum
I believe; one-third and one-third if I heard what the parties had
recommended correctly.[3]
Additionally, in the court’s oral pronouncement, the court sentenced Wilbourn to
the minimum fine of $750, suspended, for the drug-tax-stamp offense.
3 We note the court’s explanation inaccurately describes the calculation of the
mandatory minimum as agreed upon by the parties. One-third of the maximum
indeterminate term is 8.334. (25 * (1/3)) = 8.334. A further reduction of this by
one-third is 5.556. [8.334 – ((1/3) * 8.334)] = 5.556. A “two-thirds reduction” of the
mandatory minimum would be 2.778. [8.334 – ((2/3) * 8.334)] = 2.778. However,
the context of the court’s statement makes clear the court was simply mistaken in
its articulation, and its intention is to give effect to the terms of the parties’
agreement that the mandatory minimum sentence should be calculated by
reducing the maximum indeterminate sentence by one-third, and that this
mandatory minimum should be further reduced by one-third pursuant to section
901.10(2).
6
The court issued a written sentencing order the same day. In the order, the
court stated its reasons for Wilbourn’s sentence, including his age, family
circumstances, employment history, criminal history, the nature of the offenses
committed, the underlying facts and circumstances, the need to protect the
community, providing an opportunity for rehabilitation, and “the joint
recommendation of the parties, and the negotiated plea agreement.” Concerning
the mandatory minimum sentence on the possession charge, the written
sentencing order stated: “The Defendant shall serve the mandatory minimum
sentence described in Iowa Code Section 124.413, reduced to the maximum
extent possible described in Iowa Code Section 901.10(2).” Additionally, the
written sentencing order imposed a suspended fine of $5000 on the drug-tax-
stamp offense.
On January 15, the State filed a motion for an order nunc pro tunc. The
motion explained that the prosecutor “was contacted by the Iowa Department of
Corrections seeking clarification of the defendant’s mandatory minimum sentence
and reduction.” The motion further stated the prosecutor spoke to defense counsel
and:
[I]t is the parties mutual understanding that . . . [the
possession-with-intent charge’s] sentence carries a mandatory
minimum term of confinement of 1/3 the maximum indeterminate
sentence prescribed by law, and that under Iowa Code 901.10(2),
this mandatory term of confinement should be reduced by 1/3
considering that the Defendant entered a guilty plea in this matter.
Later that day, the district court, based on the agreement of the parties, entered
an order nunc pro tunc stating:
Under Iowa Code 124.413(1), the Defendant shall not be eligible for
parole or work release until he has served a minimum term of
7
confinement of one-third of the maximum indeterminate sentence
provided by law; however, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 901.10(2),
as the Defendant has entered a guilty plea, this mandatory minimum
term of confinement is reduced by one-third.
Wilbourn filed an appeal on January 31, 2020.
Because Wilbourn did not file a motion in arrest of judgment, he has waived
any procedural defects in the plea proceeding. Iowa R. Crim. P. 2.24(3)(a) (“A
defendant’s failure to challenge the adequacy of a guilty plea proceeding by motion
in arrest of judgment shall preclude the defendant’s right to assert such challenge
on appeal.”). Further, Wilbourn does not seek to set aside his guilty plea. With
respect to his challenge to his sentences, Damme forecloses a finding of good
cause. 944 N.W.2d at 105. In Damme, the supreme court held good cause exists
to appeal from a conviction following a guilty plea when “the defendant challenges
his or her sentence rather than the guilty plea. Damme received a discretionary
sentence that was neither mandatory nor agreed to as part of her plea bargain,
and she is appealing that sentence and asking for resentencing without
challenging her guilty plea or conviction.” Id. (emphasis added); see also State v.
Thompson, 951 N.W.2d 1, 2 (Iowa 2020) (explaining that in Damme, “We held that
a defendant who is not challenging her guilty plea or conviction has good cause to
appeal an alleged sentencing error when the sentence was neither mandatory nor
agreed to in the plea bargain.” (emphasis added)).
“[The defendant] bears the burden of establishing good cause to pursue an
appeal of [his] conviction based on a guilty plea.” State v. Boldon, 954 N.W.2d 62,
69 (Iowa 2021) (quotation omitted). In Damme, “[t]he district court imposed a
nonmandatory sentence that was outside of the range agreed to by the parties in
8
the plea agreement.” 944 N.W.2d at 105. Here, Wilbourn agreed to the imposition
of his current sentences as part of his plea agreement.4 For these reasons, we
affirm.5 See State v. Riley, No. 19-1317, 2021 WL 1662419, at *1–2 (Iowa Ct. App.
April 28, 2021), further review denied (June 28, 2021).
Therefore, we do not engage in a lengthy discussion on the application of
the sentencing options under Iowa Code sections 123.413(1) and 901.10(2).
Wilbourn argues for a new sentencing hearing because he alleges the district court
was not aware of its discretion under sections 123.413(3) and 901.11(1).
However, the record is clear that the court was adopting the parties’
recommendation that Wilbourn’s sentence be imposed pursuant to sections
123.413(1) and 901.10(2). The court was not required to explicitly reject its
4
We note a written plea agreement is not included as a part of the record. Where
the sentencing court is adopting the agreed-upon terms of a plea agreement, the
sentence imposed is “not the product of the exercise of trial court discretion but of
the process of giving effect to the parties’ agreement.” State v. Snyder, 336
N.W.2d 728, 729 (Iowa 1983). For our court to find the sentencing court was acting
with no discretion, the plea agreement is necessary for our review. See State v.
Thacker, 862 N.W.2d 402, 410 (Iowa 2015). The record absent a written plea
agreement shows that the sentencing court was adopting the parties’ agreement,
and Wilbourn does not argue he received a sentence other than that which was
negotiated as part of the plea agreement. Wilbourn raises an abuse of discretion
argument; however, as we find Wilbourn has not established good cause, we need
not address the issue.
5 Wilbourn asks that if we do not find good cause for his appeal that we treat his
notice of appeal and brief as an application for discretionary review. A defendant
may request appellate review by filing an application for discretionary review
pursuant to Iowa Code section 814.6(2) and Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure
6.106. Iowa courts have “inherent power to determine whether [they] have
jurisdiction over the subject matter of the proceedings before it.” State v. Propps,
897 N.W.2d 91, 97 (Iowa 2017). Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.108 provides,
“If any case is initiated by a notice of appeal . . . and the appellate court determines
another form of review was the proper one, the case shall not be dismissed, but
shall proceed as though the proper form of review had been requested.” We
decline to exercise discretionary review in this case.
9
discretion under sections 123.413(3) and 901.11(1). See State v. Thomas, 547
N.W.2d 223, 225 (Iowa 1996) (explaining a sentencing court is generally “not
required to give its reasons for rejecting particular sentencing options.”); see also
State v. Breeding, No. 17-1478, 2019 WL 1940723, at *4 (Iowa Ct. App. May 21,
2019) (finding no abuse of discretion where the sentencing court failed to state
reasons for not reducing a mandatory minimum sentence under section 124.413(3)
because the court had no discretion as section 901.10(2), barring any reduction in
sentence, controls as a specific statute applicable to defendants who plead guilty
to violations of section 124.401(1)(b) involving amphetamine or
methamphetamine).
B. Drug Tax Stamp Fine
In its oral pronouncement of sentencing, the district court imposed a fine of
$750 related to Wilbourn’s drug-tax-stamp violation. However, the court’s written
order imposed a fine of $5000. When a written judgment differs from the oral
pronouncement of sentence, the oral pronouncement controls. State v. Hess, 533
N.W.2d 525, 528 (Iowa 1995). “When the record unambiguously reflects that a
clerical error has occurred, [this court] will direct the district court to enter a nunc
pro tunc order to correct the judgment entry. Id. at 527. The State acknowledges
the error and suggests the district court correct the discrepancy by issuing a nunc
pro tunc order to reflect its oral pronouncement. We agree.
C. Conclusion
As Wilbourn has failed to establish good cause following a guilty plea and
the imposition of an agreed-upon sentence, we affirm. However, the discrepancy
10
in the fine imposed for Wilbourn’s drug-tax-stamp violation should be corrected by
the district court by the entry of a nunc pro tunc order.
AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.